A NEW shop selling new, retro and vintage football shirts to raise money for cancer charities has opened in Festival Place.

Football Shirts For Charity will sell new and pre-loved football shirts from its three-month pop-up shop which opened on October 10 on the upper level of the shopping centre.

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The shop was the brainchild of football fans and colleagues Jayme Sporton and Tania Harding who decided to do something to raise money for causes close to their hearts.

The pair have both been affected by cancer in people very close to them and saw an opportunity to do something to make a difference by selling football shirts to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund and Cancer Research UK.

The shirts have been donated by people from around the world, from international teams to local non-league sides, and Festival Place customers are also encouraged to drop off pre-loved kit that can be resold in the shop.

All profits are donated to the two cancer charities.

Jayme and Tania work together as education consultants but their work dried up during Covid-19 lockdowns, inspiring them to think of something else to fill their time.

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Jayme, a 49-year-old father-of-two from Basingstoke, wanted to do something to raise money for cancer after his friend died of bowel cancer.

“I wanted to do something to honour his name,” he explained, adding: “I have had a passion for football shirts and thought ‘what can I do to combine the two?' We put out some requests and people started sending us shirts and it exploded from there.”

Tania, 44, from Alton, said football has always been a big part of her life and is a passion she shares with her father.

When her dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 42, he was given less than 15 per cent chance of survival.

“Dad and I took solace watching matches together,” she said, adding; “Though it was very traumatic, we are thankful every day that he survived cancer.”

Although her dad was one of the lucky ones, Tania’s life was again affected by cancer when she lost a university friend, Caroline, to the illness.

Tania said her personal experiences of cancer had inspired her to support cancer charities.

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The colleagues are now hoping the Basingstoke community will get behind their venture as they open their first physical shop in Festival Place.

Jayme said the opening day was a huge success, adding: “It went incredibly well and the feedback was mind-blowing. Everyone had told everyone else and we were flooded with lots of intrigue. Our Twitter went mad. We did a bit of filming which had 17,000 views.”

The pair believe that every shirt has a story and that the nation’s passion for football is what has inspired people to get on board and support Football Shirts For Charity.

“The sight of any football shirt always evokes so many special memories and conversations,” said Jayme, adding: “Football Shirts For Charity was born from the love of knowing the pride in securing ownership of a pre-loved, historic, retro, recent or vintage football shirt, while also contributing to vital charities.

“We are hopeful that people will come and buy shirts from us and also donate shirts from the entire football pyramid to us that they no longer want or need.

“We are both absolutely thrilled by the opportunity and are very grateful to Festival Place for their support in the first venture of its kind for us.”

Football Shirts For Charity has established a link with football clubs in the area including Basingstoke, Farnham and Alton, with a special section in the shop dedicated to local clubs.

Jayme said he hopes the community will also support the charity by donating pre-loved shirts so that it can continue to raise money.

“If people have pre-loved shirts they don’t want, we are thrilled to receive donations which is the thing that will sustain us, if people are generous in donating shirts,” he said.

Festival Place centre director Neil Churchill said: “We are delighted to be able to host Football Shirts For Charity for three months here at Festival Place.

“We hope they will receive lots of support from people coming in with shirts to donate and those wanting to buy a retro shirt of a team they love.”

The shop will open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sundays from 11am to 4pm. Donations can be taken to the store.

For more information visit www.footballshirtsfc.co.uk.